Page 318 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

person’s appearance, and the setting in which the meeting takes
place.

Essay-Based Assignment: A Teachable Moment

Review Maya Angelou’s essay, “Complaining,” at the beginning of this

chapter . The author tells a story in which her grandmother, using the

people who come into her store as examples, teaches a lesson about
life. Situations and incidents that offer an opportunity for one person

(usually an adult) to teach an important lesson to another person

(usually a child) are called “teachable moments.” Write a narrative

describing a time in your life when someone caught you at a

“teachable moment.” Before you write, reread Angelou’s narrative

carefully. Notice how vividly she describes her grandmother and the
complainers who came into the store. Try to present the characters in

your narrative, as well as the lesson you learned, in a vivid and

memorable way.

Narration in the Real World: Observation Skills
Many times, people ask how writing essays will help them in the “real

world.” This real-world assignment gives just one example of how

narrative writing might be used outside the classroom.

People in many professions are required to develop keen powers of
observation. Those in security or police work need to be observant

and to know what is going on around them. For medical personnel,

keen observation of patients can make the difference between life and

death. In fact, just about anyone can benefit from observing more

about his or her environment.